What is LIfe After Death Like?

[_Roger Morrison]

Inconceivable posted:

...sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”
(UL added by RM)
(Jas. Faust - Conference April 6, 2003)

That the whole piece from which this is taken was quoted in 2003 leaves me aghast at its absurdity. The thoughtless insensitivity of someone considered enlightened as a Prophet to use it publicly, must to reasonable people call to question the mental and spiritual fitness of the individual and the institution he represents to influence any segment of society.

Especially what i have ULd. Even the word "tentacles" denotes a vile, evil ensnaring of an object/person. For it to be attached to "Divine Providence" is without precedence in misuse and stupidity. Even in the opinion of an unbeliever, it must offend those who do believe in a "God" of love. On display in this ill-chosen quote, is a vicious, malicious, vengeful monster "God". Believe in IT at your peril.

More to the point: This 'quote' clearly states the sadistic nature of "God" who will see that they--children--pay, suffer, and walk a thorny path for misdeeds...

NO where does Jesus suggest, or demonstrate such condemnation of persons dealing with their life challenges, and mistakes. The adultress was rescued from stoning--the relgious practice of the day--without condemnation. Here is Jesus, THE contrarian at his best. Just think how this defied convention...

Forgiveness is THE message of Christ, not retribution. No pound-of-flesh, no sacrificial payments, or rituals are required in the teachings of Jesus. Such teaching are those of humans who are more demented than divine. Wolves in sheep's clothing. Beware lest they enter your homes and destroy your families. Seems they are doing a good job...

Thanks for the quote, Incon... Warm regards, Roger

[_Inconceivable]

Thanks for your thoughts, Roger.

"Tentacles" in and of itself isn't a bad word.

For instance, squids are decent creatures.

They have them to lay hold of other creatures in order to draw them in and consume them - thus giving strength to the body. When squids move forward the tentacles follow. When they spook they spew ink as the tentacles propel the head from danger.

Oh yeah, I guess in order for tentacles to work properly they have to be lined with lots of suckers.

hmm...

wow. The Mormon church is a squid.

[_Jason Bourne]

What do you think your life will be like after you die?

If I get to the Celestial Kingdom, I think this is what my life will be like. Much like it is here, only incalculably better. No pain. No worry. No sleeping. Worshipping God. Associating with family and friends. Choir practice. Having children. Nurturing children. Helpi;ng in planning a new earth.

I do wonder if I there will be quilting.

you're going to get bored. unfortunately, worring over whether that choir number is going to go over well, or the quilt is going to come out right, the frustrations with practice and trial and error, and then the relief that follows pulling it off and having it appreciated will no more exist. So think of something that you can do so easily, in your sleep, that is absolutely no challenge and without risk, say, watering the plants. and that's what your life will be like for eternity, sheer, endless, repetitious boredom.

you'll be wishing the atheists were right and non-existence to set in.

I hardly think live now is boring so I if there is an after life i doubt I would share your fatalistic view. If in fact there is non existence at death it seems the ultimate cosmic cruelty for a species such as we that can actually ask questions about our existence has such a short one.

[_truth dancer]

If in fact there is non existence at death it seems the ultimate cosmic cruelty for a species such as we that can actually ask questions about our existence has such a short one.

Well... this is an interesting point in my opinion.

It certainly is true that our form of awareness seems to be unusual in the universe, and totally amazing.

OTOH, we are only half way through the existence of our universe and who knows what is to come.

I think the universe just keeps coming up with new and more amazing things... it is full of surpirses. Who would have thought a galaxy would emerge from little photons? Or planets from an exploding star? Or a symphony from rocks? If we look at the history of our universe, it seems to me there must be plenty more to come....

To think there will not be something more amazing than humans seems utterly impossible.

And to think what has emerged, (awareness), would just pop into existence then disappear afer a few millennia seems equally out of character for our universe.

What seems more likely to me is that the universe will continue as it has for the past nearly fourteen billion years... bringing forth more surprises that we could not possibly imagine!

:-)

~dancer~

[_beastie]

I hardly think live now is boring so I if there is an after life I doubt I would share your fatalistic view. If in fact there is non existence at death it seems the ultimate cosmic cruelty for a species such as we that can actually ask questions about our existence has such a short one.

If this didn't bother you before your birth, it's not going to bother you after your death.

Death is only cruel for loved ones left behind.

[Guest]

Hi Charity...

I think Roger responded to this very appropriately but...

I think most of your post depends on a level of understanding far below what we will all have when we know everything. We get so arrogant that our minds can understand what it is like to have all knowledge (which we can't even approach) that we think we know how things will be. We just plain old don't. And can't in this life.

I, too, am a convert, not sealed to my parents. Sealed to a husband and children. I am sure that my parents and I will be together. This life isn't all there is.

I'm NOT the one describing heaven and telling people what they need to do to get in, how it will be, what we will become, how we will look, who will be the judge, etc. etc. etc.

In other words, the LDS CHURCH is the one who is arrogant based on YOUR statement... you seem to be saying that the LDS leaders/scriptures etc., have a level of understanding far below what we will have. Yes, I agree with this, if there is an afterlife! (smile)

So, lets see, as a ten year old child, sitting in primary class when "families can be together forever" is sung, and it becomes clear that only families who are sealed will be together... and leaders tell you that you will not be with your family unless they all convert and are sealed to you, well, glad it worked for you. :-) Personally I think it is a cruel story to tell children.

So, you believe you will be with your family forever.... I assume you think those not currently sealed to you will all "make it" to the CKHL, yourself included. Good for you. There are others who are not quite as "perfect"/righteous/wonderful, with less "perfect" family members. I guess they are the ones who will not be with their family members who do not believe in Joseph Smith. You and your family must be some of the chosen!


~dancer~

The gospel is a gospel of hope. We don't preach perfect in this life. There was only one perfect, remember. When we talk about family, I have every hope that they will be with me. Those who didn't have the Gospel preached in power here will have the opportunity to accept it on the other side. And they will.

This is a serious question: What if your idea of what you absolutely have to have to be happy, conflicts with what another person decides they have to have? For isntance, the work of the Celestial Kingdom will be to be engaged continually in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And suppose that is what I need to be absolutely happy and I need all my family members to be doing that, too, or else I can't be happy. What happens if there are some of my family who need NOT to be engaged continually. . etc... So, I can't be with them and be happy, but if I force them to do what I want so we can all be together, then they can't be happy.

I think the mercy and love of God has a solution. I just don't know what it is.

are you nuts - it's a mind controlling system of abuse that believes a loving parent would rather see their children dead and in coffin than have them have sex on prom night. That is something that a convert won't hear during the first years of attendance - but will later and will feel like they have the air knocked out of them when they here it for the first time. CHARITY - STOP DEFENDING EVIL.

[_Jason Bourne]

If in fact there is non existence at death it seems the ultimate cosmic cruelty for a species such as we that can actually ask questions about our existence has such a short one.

Well... this is an interesting point in my opinion.

It certainly is true that our form of awareness seems to be unusual in the universe, and totally amazing.

OTOH, we are only half way through the existence of our universe and who knows what is to come.

I think the universe just keeps coming up with new and more amazing things... it is full of surpirses. Who would have thought a galaxy would emerge from little photons? Or planets from an exploding star? Or a symphony from rocks? If we look at the history of our universe, it seems to me there must be plenty more to come....

To think there will not be something more amazing than humans seems utterly impossible.

And to think what has emerged, (awareness), would just pop into existence then disappear afer a few millennia seems equally out of character for our universe.

What seems more likely to me is that the universe will continue as it has for the past nearly fourteen billion years... bringing forth more surprises that we could not possibly imagine!

:-)

~dancer~

Maybe something more amazing will come but again, I still find it a cruel cosmic joke if a sentient thinking being such as we are really only not even a blink on the stage of existence. I hikes the Grand Canyon recently and felt really small when they said that it had taken only 5-6 million years to carve this awesome geological structure, a blink they said really, on the time history of geological progress.

[_Jason Bourne]

I hardly think live now is boring so I if there is an after life I doubt I would share your fatalistic view. If in fact there is non existence at death it seems the ultimate cosmic cruelty for a species such as we that can actually ask questions about our existence has such a short one.

If this didn't bother you before your birth, it's not going to bother you after your death.

Death is only cruel for loved ones left behind.

Of course if I do not exist it will not bother me.

The point is that it bothers me NOW.

[_truth dancer]

Maybe something more amazing will come but again, I still find it a cruel cosmic joke if a sentient thinking being such as we are really only not even a blink on the stage of existence. I hikes the Grand Canyon recently and felt really small when they said that it had taken only 5-6 million years to carve this awesome geological structure, a blink they said really, on the time history of geological progress.

I think of it like this...

The early bacteria, from which all life emerged might seem like nothing but look what it brought forth!

So too, in the grand scheme of things we may be hardly a blink but what emerge from our energy?

I just feel certain there is so much more to come... that we are just a form whose transformation of energy is needed for what will come next! :-)

Not a joke... an amazing form needed for whatever will come next!

~dancer~

[_beastie]

Of course if I do not exist it will not bother me.

The point is that it bothers me NOW.

Why?